Combination counter and stiffening member for shoes



Oct. 24, 1939. su'rcu 2,177,030

COMBINATION COUNTER AND STIFFENING MEMBER FOR SHOES Filed April 25, 1938 WI/E/VTUAY W51 .5 2 a W Mid Patented Oct. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION COUNTER AND STIFFENING MEMBER FOR SHOES Application April 25, 1938, Serial No. 204,020

7 Claims.

. This invention relates to the manufacture of shoes having molded counters in combination with stiffening members which overlie the heel seat flange of the counter, such asshank stiflfeners or tucks. In order to promote brevity and clearness, the invention will be described in connection with molded counters and shank stiffeners as commonly used in making turned shoes, although it should be understood that the invention is equally applicable to shoes of other types, such as pre-welted constructions.

Heretofore, in accordance with the usual practice, the heel portion of the stiffener is fitted closely into the counter against the back and side ll walls thereof and fastened rigidly about the counter flange to provide a reinforcing unit for insertion into the shoe. This practice has substantial advantages in that relative longitudinal movements of the shank piece and counter are avoided during the second lasting and the counter is prevented from creeping during the progressive heel seat nailing operations subsequently performed. However, the practice is attended by certain serious difllculties which it is the principal object of thepresent invention to overcome.

For example, it is difficult to fasten the loose stiffener and counter rigidly together in exactly the relative positions it is desired to have them assume permanently in the finished shoe, particularly where the assembled reinforcing unit may be used in either a right or a left shoe, since the swing of the right shoe is in a direction opposite to that of the left. If the parts are not accurately assembled, they will not line up properly when the second last is inserted, for, aithoughthe counter will conform to the last, in so doing it will twist the stiffener askew. To remedy this condition, it is usual for the shoemaker to aline the stiffener with the shoe sole and tack it securely in position before the last is inserted. However, this has not proved a satisfactory solution, because of the attached counter is thus positioned more to one side than the other, it becomes distorted by the second last and then, upon withdrawal of the last, the counter, being of stiff resilient material, tends to return to its original condition and a finished shoe results which is warped and crooked.

In view of the foregoing considerations, the

present invention provides an improved unit assembly comprising a molded counter and a slightly undersized stiffening member permanently connected adjacent to the wings of the 5 counter in a manner permitting articulate movements laterally, so that the reinforcing parts will automatically line up with the second last when it is inserted and will assume their proper relative positions in the finished shoe. Further in accordance with this invention, an improved 5 method is provided for making shoes embodying the improved unit assembly. Various other features of the invention will be more fully set forth in the description of the accompanying drawing, in which-- l0 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a molded counter and a shank stifl'ener formed and assembled together in accordance with this inventioz;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of a portion of the assembled unit, showing a modification of the means for securing the parts together;

Fig. 4 shows in plan a right shoe embodying the invention, the lining being broken away to disclose the parts in a relationship they may assume 20 on the second last; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing a left shoe.

The improved reinforcing unit is composed of a molded counter III, a stiflening member l5 and 6 a pair of fasteners 20-20. The counter is of usual construction, molded of stifl fiber to form a substantially U-shaped wall il having curved and sloping wing ends l2--l2, respectively, the wall being also curved vertically to correspond 30 substantially with the heel portion of a last on which the shoe is to be given its final shape. At its base the wall I l is turned inwardly to form a heel seat flange M which extends entirely about the counter from one wing end to the other. 35

As shown, the heel portion l6 of the stiffener is slightly shorter and narrower than the corresponding inside dimensions of the counter, the disparity at the heel end being perferably not more than one-eighth of an inch in large sizes 40 and as little as one-sixteenth of an inch in small sizes. Forwardly of the heel end, the width of the stiflener gradually approaches that of the counter and may be such as to fit closely into the counter at its wing ends. The shank portion I! of the 4 stiffener is preferably symmetrical and is provided with match marking notches in its side edges at l8l8 to guide the operator in locating the parts in proper relation for assembly. The counter and stiffener are securely held together by 50 a single fastener 20 extending through the stiffener and the counter flange adjacent each wing end of the counter at about the transverse center of the flange. The fasteners may be rivets or eyelets, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, 5

or may be small staples 2l2l, as shown in Fig. 3, experience having shown the latter to be satisfactory and more convenient for the purpose, although their ability to function as required is less obvious. Thus formed and securely fastened together, the parts are capable of limited relative movements laterally, as indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 1, the fasteners forming pivots, as will be readily understood, and the counter flexing slightly to conform to the last.

Assembly of the reinforcing parts is an extremely simple, certain and inexpensive operation, it being necessary merely to bring the parts together with the wing ends of the counter in register with the notches l8, as shown in Fig. 1, and then to drive the two fasteners 20-40 or 2l--2|. No particular care is required in performing this operation and it will be noted that the fasteners are located adjacent the counter wings where it is easy to engage the parts between the hammer and anvil of a fastening device. This is of considerable advantage when it is appreciated that heretofore it has been necessary carefully to aline and register the parts and then to drive a large plurality of fasteners about the counter flange to connect the counter and stiffener rigidly in a relationship they must permanently maintain in the shoe.

vThe improved reinforcing unit may be assembled into the shoe in any of the ways in which molded counters and stifiener assemblies have heretofore been employed. For best results, however, the following method should be followed. 'I'hecounter portion of the unit is inserted between the upper and-its lining 26, a coating of paste being first applied to the counter wall. The stiffener i5 is then alined with the sole 2'! and secured directly thereto by two or more spaced tacks 28-28 located centrally to avoid the counter flange, whereupon the last is inserted to give the shoe its final shape. Should the counter be slightly out of alinement, as it usually is, it

will be automatically alined by the last without warping or distortion, the counter merely flexing slightly as it swings to the right or left relative to the sole and stifiener about the fasteners.

It will be found that there is no appreciable tendency during the second lasting operation for the counter wings to pull out due to spreading of the counter side wall portions by the last since, as the sides are spread, the counter portion at and adjacent to the back seam 30 is free to move inwardly, being unresisted by the short stiflener. To the extent that the counter may remain in a slightly spread condition as a result of the second lasting, the small space defined between the heel end of the stiffener and the counter will be reduced or entirely taken up. As a matter of fact, no appreciable space is observable at this point in any of a large number of finished shoes made in accordance with this invention.

The counter and stiffener are then rigidly secured in the shoe by the heel seat nails 32 inserted while the shoe is on the last, and upon withdrawal of the last the counter will continue to maintain its proper normal shape and relationship.

By virtue of the improvements here taught,

symmetrical molded counters and stiifeners may be formed and quickly pre-assembled with assurance that the stiffener will be straight and that the counter will fit snugly about the last regardless of whether the shoe be a right or a left. If the shoe is for the right foot, the ultimate relative positions of the parts may be as indicated in Fig. 4, whereas if the shoe is for the left foot, the parts may be related substantially as shown in Fig. 5, in which like or identical parts are indicated by the same reference characters with the addition of an exponent. In either case, both the stiffener and the counter will aline and conform properly to the last and, what is more important, will thereafter maintain their lasted shape.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. As an article of manufacture, in combination, a molded counter-having an inwardly extending heel seat flange, and a stiffening member fitted loosely in the counter against the flange thereof, said counter and stiffening member being connected only adjacent to the wing ends of the counter by means permitting lateral articulate movements.

2. As an article of manufacture, in combination, a molded counter having an inwardly extending heel seat flange, a stiffening member extending within the counter and against the flange thereof, the heel end of said member being spaced from the heel end of the counter, and a fastener extending through the member and through said flange at each side adjacent to the wing ends of the counter, said member and counter being otherwise unattached.

3. As an article of manufacture, in combination, a moldled counter having an inwardly extending heel seat flange, a stiffening member extending within the counter against the flange thereof, said member being shorter and narrower than the corresponding inside dimensions of the counter at its heel end, they width of the member gradually approaching the width of the counter from the heel end forwardly, saidcounter and. stiffening member being connected only adjacent to the wing ends of the counter by means per mitting lateral articulate movements.

4. As an article of manufacture, in combination, a molded counter having an inwardly extending heel seat flange, a stiffening member extending *1 member and flange being otherwise unattached.

5. In shoemaking, the method of making an assembled counter and shank stiffener which comprises providing a molded counter having an inwardly extending heel seat flange, preparing a shank stiffener having a heel portion shorter and narrower than the corresponding inside dimensions of the counter, forming marks on the stiffener to define the heel portion thereof, posi- ,tioning the stiffener against the flange of the counter with the counter wings in substantial register with said marks, and connecting the flange and stiffener adjacent to the wing ends of the counter by means permitting lateral articulate movements, and counter and stiffener being otherwise unattached.

6. In shoemaking, the method of making an assembled counter and shank stifl'ener which comprises providing a molded counter having an inwardly extending heel seat flange, preparing a shank stiffener having a heel portion shorter and narrower than the corresponding inside dimensions vof the counter and forming notches in opposite edges of the stiflener to define the heel portion thereof, positioning the stiifener against the flange of the counter with the counter wings in substantial register with said notches, and then inserting a' single fastener through the stifiener and through the counter flange at each side adjacent to the counter wings.

'7. In shoe making methods in which a molded counter and a stiffening member are assembled together before insertion into a shoe, that improvement which comprises providing a molded counter having an inwardly extending heel seat flange, providing a stiflener sized to fit loosely within the counter against the flange thereof, fastening the counter and stiffener together adjacent to the wing ends of the counter by means permitting lateral articulate movements, inserting the thus connected counter and stifiener into the shoe, alining the stiffener with respect to the adjacent sole member of the shoe, tacking the stiifener directly to said sole member inwardly of the counter flange, inserting a last into the shoe, and securing the counter flange and stiffener rigidly together and to the sole member while on said last.

HARRY L. SUTCLIFFE. 

